2024 marks thirty years of the 1994 edition of the Miss Universe Pageant held in Manila.
When Pageants Make You Cry…
Yes, it has been three decades already and I still cry when watching beauty pageants!
A short visit to a friend at ABS-CBN in mid April of 1994 turned out to be a life changing experience for this pageant aficionado…I ended up as a researcher for the official TV network of the 1994 Miss Universe Pageant that same day. A fresh Nursing graduate, everything in the realm of the television industry was foreign to me!
My only advantage that time was I know by heart what was required from me! Pageant trivia and history! Little did I know that my stint will be a whirlwind of an adventure. This was before the age of the internet! Searching through tons of pageant clippings from my own collection and my friends’ was not an easy job. I knew the facts but pictures were required! I survived somehow…I learned technical terms that I have never even heard of before.
Since I was a child I have been following three countries in the pageant world, The Philippines, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. This is now the perfect time to meet my favorite ladies while working as part of the pageant. Charlene Bonnin Gonzalez, Miss Philippines was a student at my alma mater. The first time I saw her before she was even crowned Bb. Pilipinas was an accident…I was going down the steps of the Main Building after getting a copy of my transcript of records when a woman nearly bumped into me. I was ready to give her a mouthful but I was stunned with the beauty that was standing in front of me! She said “Oh,sorry, I was not looking” I just said “It’s ok!Ang ganda mo!” Little did I know that in three months she will be crowned Bb. Pilipinas-Universe 1994.
Brenda Robles of Puerto Rico competed at the 1993 Miss International Pageant in Japan so I already had an idea of what she looked like.
I was anticipating the arrival of Venezuela’s Minorka Marisela Mercado Carrero, a stunning and tall volleyball player who I only saw in pictures I got from the newspapers at their embassy in Manila (yup, we went to different embassies to research clippings as early as the 1990’s).The day the candidates started arriving in Manila, I eagerly rated them and picked my favorites while going about with my job of shotlisting and transferring videos of all the ladies in all their activities in one hugely large vhs tape looking thing called betacam! Each candidate had a betacam file to make life easier for the editing crew. I remember transporting betacams via a wheelbarrow from one end of the station where the editing bay was to our main room aptly called the “War Room” where all our files are stored.
As the days went by, I had many possible front runners…It was Minorka who always topped my list from day 1. I became her number one fan…My friends already called me Minorka of ABS-CBN. My UST friends who were working with me at the station had their favorites too. Roxy Liquigan loved Sushmita Sen of India, Lui Andrada voted for Lu Parker of the USA and John “Sweet” Lapus idolized Brenda Robles of Puerto Rico.It was during the ABS-CBN Dinner that I had a first glimpse of my goddess Minorka. She was so slim, tall, beautiful and regal! We were not allowed to mingle with them during the event though. I had my chance to see her up close when we were all lined up waiting for them to board their bus. I held in my hand her official photo as Miss Venezuela and as she passed by she noticed me and waved! I was awed! I told her she was my “diosa” and wished her the best. She blew a kiss and said “Gracias!” I still cannot forget that moment! Prior to that all I had was an autograph of her given by my friend when he covered her arrival at the airport.From that time I knew she was destined to win no matter what. I followed her all throughout the pageant, through videos I was editing and pictures I was collating. During my days off, I would watch their activities in person . As the finals drew nearer, she was on top of almost everyone’s list. It was either her or Miss Colombia, Carolina Gomez. Several staff members were eyeing Sushmita as a dark horse. They have worked with her and knew that she has the gift of gab. One incident that happened was how Sushmita politely requested one of the pageant’s pre-pageant host to pronounce her name correctly!
The Finals came so swiftly…I was a bit disappointed that I had to be stationed at the studio where the pre pageant broadcast would be held. I wanted to be assigned at the Philippine International Convention Center where the live pageant would be held.
I had time off during the whole duration of the Finals and will resume editing as soon as the pageant finished broadcasting. I watched the pageant in a big screen tv in the main lounge of the station with several staff members and some kids from “Ang TV” and their mothers. I was satisfied with Minorka’s performance all throughout the pageant. When the final question came, I was confident that she will be crowned despite Sushmita’s very profound answer…” The judges will score the ladies based on their overall performance”…I just kept repeating this to myself…I was devastated when Minorka was announced 2nd runner-up! I never ceased crying till the pageant was over. It was funny how some of the moms in the room were saying that Venezuela has won many times…”Let’s give chance to others” they chorused.
I have never cried so much because of a pageant! I was still crying when I headed to the editing bay to resume helping my segment producer finish the post pageant features. I was still in tears while I handed him the video materials he needed. I gave myself a pat on the back for not walking out because of despair! I was still sulking in misery when my friends came back to the station from PICC. They tried to cheer me up but failed! I went home miserable that day.The following day, Sushmita visited the station and had to tape three shows, It was the first time I saw her so radiant. As much as I would love to rejoice in meeting the new Miss Universe, I was still hurt. She was so nice to everyone. We were not allowed to have our pictures taken with her so we took pictures with her in the background. She saw the daughter of a colleague sitting where we were and asked the child to pose beside her! Ah, that made me feel better, Miss Universe has a heart!When I saw Sushmita during the 2010 and 2012 Miss Universe Pageant in Las Vegas, I remembered how gracious she was after being crowned. She made me smile every time she would utter “Mabuhay” to all the Filipino fans that she met in Vegas.
Thirty years have passed and I still cry at times when watching pageants. I guess, that’s the emo in me!
PRIDE & PULCHRITUDE 